Khaleda's remark on martyrs draws public wrath

Aggrieved by BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia's controversial remarks over the number of Liberation War martyrs, several hundred people took to the street at Gulshan-2 intersection near her residence in the capital yesterday and demanded her trial for sedition.

They also called for passing a "Liberation War Denial Crimes Act" with provisions of punishment for denying historically established facts and settled issues regarding the Liberation War.

The former premier should seek apology for her remarks, said the protesters.

Freedom fighters, political leaders, cultural and social activists, and people from all walks of life joined the sit-in that began at 10:00am.

The area was reverberated with slogans demanding trial of Khaleda and her party leader Goyeshwar Chandra Roy for their remarks.

After the two-hour sit-in, the protesters started for Khaleda's residence to besiege her but were stopped by police.

Meanwhile, speaking at a discussion eminent politicians and academics yesterday asked BNP to clarify its “position” on the country's independence.

They urged unity of the progressive and pro-liberation people against any attempt of anti-liberation forces, which is destabilising the country and insulting the spirit of independence.

“We don't have a leadership that can unite mass people and compel Khaleda Zia to apologise... I have doubt whether even the Awami League can do it,” said Pankaj Bhattacharya, president of Oikya Nap.

Sammilita Samajik Andolon, a citizens' organisation, organised the discussion in its Shahbagh office.

On December 21, the BNP chief said, “There are controversies over how many people were martyred in the Liberation War. There are also many books and documents on the controversies.”

Her comments came hard on the heels of Pakistan's denial last month of committing any war crimes or atrocities in the nine-month war in 1971.

Amid protest against Khaleda, Goyeshwar on Friday described the 1971 martyred intellectuals as “anti-liberation elements” and “fools”.

Addressing the Gulshan sit-in, Justice AHM Shamsuddin Choudhury, a former Supreme Court judge, said, “Khaleda has insulted the Liberation War and the martyrs -- it constitutes sedition for which death is the highest punishment.”

“She should be tried for sedition,” he said.

Many speakers supported his call.

Khaleda is already facing sedition charges, and a Dhaka court has asked police to probe the allegations.

Days after her comments, Sajeeb Wazed Joy, the son of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, had told pro-liberation forces to protest near the residence of Khaleda for her outrageous comments.

Shahriar Kabir, executive president of Ekatturer Ghatak Dalal Nirmul Committee, said she would have to apologise.

Accusing Khaleda of hatching a conspiracy living in the diplomatic area, he urged the government to oust her from the area.

Tarana Halim, state minister for posts, telecommunications and information technology, said Khaleda and her leaders were continuously demeaning the Liberation War, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, martyrs, intellectuals, and rape victims.

“We will not tolerate it anymore,” she said. “We will raise the issue of the 'Liberation War Denial Crimes Act' in parliament soon.”

“There is nothing to be surprised with her (Khaleda) comment. She is an agent of Pakistan. She should be ousted from the country… tried for sedition,” said Ferdousi Priyabhashini, a victim.

She urged the media to boycott Khaleda.

Cultural personality Nasiruddin Yousuff Bachchu said, “They (Khaleda and Goyeshwar) have denied the Liberation War by denying the 30 lakh martyrs and describing intellectual as fools.”

“Those denying the Liberation War are not allowed to engage in politics in the country,” he said.

Tureen Afroz, a prosecutor of International Crimes Tribunal, said they hurt the national sentiment by distorting the Liberation War history.

An act is necessary to stop such distortion, which is going on for years, she said.

Alongside “Joy Bangla”, participants shouted slogans like “Those who distort the Liberation War history are the agents of Pakistan”.

After protestors left the scene, traffic movement got back to normal there around 12:30pm.

Official figures say the 1971 war death toll is 30 lakh, 2.5 lakh women were raped by the Pakistani occupation army men and their local collaborators, and 10 million people fled the war to neighbouring India.

Experts say the number of genocide victims is always determined by the victim country.

BNP CLAIMS DISTORTION

BNP acting secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir last night blamed the “pro-ruling party men” for “distorting” a part of the speech of Khaleda over the number of the martyred.

In a statement, he said BNP chief in her December 21 speech mentioned about the “confusion” and “debate” over the number of martyrs as a reference.

“Pro- and anti-liberation forces and others placing different information and debate over the number of the martyred as there is no list of them. Different books upheld different figures. BNP chief just placed the information,” claimed Fakhrul, adding that BNP chief had indicated the “importance to find out the real number to express tributes to them”.

The people, who do not want to make the list of freedom fighters, dishonoured the real freedom fighters by making a list of “fake freedom fighters”.